ABSTRACT: The study was carried out to investigate Effects of Drug Abuse on the Academic Performance of Biology Students in secondary schools. Three research hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. Literature related to the study was reviewed. A survey research design was adopted for the study. A sample size of two hundred [200] respondents were selected from five [5] public Secondary Schools under the study area using simple random sampling technique. The main instrument used for data collection was a structured questionnaire and Biology Achievement Test (BAT). The result from the instrument was analyzed using independent t-test statistics at 0.05 level of significant.
Findings from the study revealed that students who do not abuse Alcohol have a better achievement in school than those who abuse marijuana. It also showed that students who do not involve themselves in alcohol abuse perform academically better in Biology than their counterpart who abuse alcohol. Finally, the finding also shows that students’ who do not abuse tobacco performed academically better than students who abuse tobacco.
Effects of Drug Abuse on the Academic Performance of Biology Students
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
Every individual grow towards becoming functioning members of the society, in the process of growth, gains empowerment through school learning which act as a determinant for academic excellence. This commitment on the part of Government and other non-state actors has extended to ensure that students are properly groomed and tutored on how best to effectively manage themselves in an ever-changing world. These changes have tempted some students to believe that, for them to be able to achieve academic expectations they need to be involve in the use of hard drugs (Brook, etal. 2009).
Drug abuse, is generally viewed as the use of a substance that modifies mood or behaviour in a manner characterized by a maladaptive pattern of use. Musto (2008) says that drug abuse is the use of drug that can cause disorder characterized by the use of a mood or behavioral pattern resulting in significant impairment, such as failure to fulfill social or occupational obligations or recurrent use in situations in which it is physically dangerous to do so or which end in legal problems
Drug abuse is the use of drugs for purposes other than medical reasons, thus affecting the individual negatively, socially, cognitively and physically. Social effects may be reflected in an individual’s enhanced tendency to engage in conflicts with friends, teachers, and school authorities. Cognitive effects relate to the individual’s lack of concentration on academic work and memory loss. Lewinsohn (2007) defines a drug as any product other than food or water that affects the way people feel, think, see, and behave. It is a substance that due to its chemical nature affects the physical, mental and emotional functioning of people. It can enter the body through chewing, inhaling, smoking, drinking, rubbing on the skin or injection. Drug abuse amongst the global youth population has become a serious problem affecting everyone.
Drug addiction has led many people into downward spiral of hopelessness, ranging from glue-sniffing street children and teenage ecstasy, heroin alcohol, tobacco and cocaine (Nacada, 2005). Drug abuse is responsible for lost wages, destruction of property in schools, soaring health care costs and broken families. It is a problem which affects us all as parents, children, teachers, Government officials, taxpayers and workers.
The use of hard drugs by students in Nigeria has become an embarrassing phenomenon to parents, schools, government authorities, and the society at large. The students today are the leaders of tomorrow and they deserve good education in the right direction (Kothari, 2006)
One of the most common consequences of drug use is keeping up with academic responsibilities. According to, National Institute on Alcohol and Alcoholism (2005) in United State of America about 25% of students experience difficulty in academics due to drug Abuse. Such difficulties include earning low grades, doing poorly on test, missing class and falling behind in academic performance. The common drugs abuse by these students includes alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana etc. Students who involved themselves in the abuse of these illicit drugs hardly keep up with academic work.
Johnson (2012) posits that the abuse of drugs by students is a presumed indicator of academic failure. Even students who don’t use drugs may suffer academic challenge as a result of peer influence. Another effect of drugs includes taking care of friends on drugs and being victims of assault which can affect school work of students who don’t use drug. These consequences can have dramatic end results. Drug use undermine academic mission of schools, colleges and universities.
Drug use and its effect on students performance can lead to a decline in the overall academic performance of a school as a result schools may face declining retention rates and poor reputation. Schools with reputation of ‘drug use’ may attract students who engage in high-risk behaviors and may discourage prospective students who are looking for an academically vigorous institution. It was on this background that the researcher was interested to examine the Effects of Drug Abuse on the Academic Performance of Biology Students in Esit Eket Local Government Area.
Effects of Drug Abuse on the Academic Performance of Biology Students
1.2 Statement of the Problem
In any educational system, success is measured by academic performance or how well a student meets the standard set out by the institution. The menace of failure among the young school students has stared parent, government and stakeholders in the face. There is a consensus of opinion about the fallen standard of education as a big problem that is hindering the posterity of the Nigerian nation in terms of quality man-power resources. Most students in secondary schools experience academic challenges that manifest itself in the form of poor academic performance mostly in biology.
Measures have been taken by Educational stakeholders in the bit to solve this problem, but all efforts proof abortive. Hence, this study seeks to examine the Effects of Drug Abuse on the Academic Performance of Biology Students in Esit Eket Local Government Area.
